Foldable carriage

ABSTRACT

A carriage having a frame which includes a plurality of elongated frame components. A first attachment point couples a first and second elongated frame component. A second attachment point couples a third and fourth elongated frame component. A transverse elongated frame component couples to the first and second attachment points. A rotation lock is disposed on the transverse elongated frame component. The rotation lock is configured to prevent rotation of the transverse elongated frame component in a locked configuration.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional applicationSer. No. 16/591,081, filed Oct. 2, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S.Nonprovisional application Ser. No. 15/634,461, filed Jun. 27, 2017,issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,435,045 on Oct. 8, 2019, which is acontinuation of U.S. Nonprovisional application Ser. No. 14/529,387,filed Oct. 31, 2014, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,718,488 on Aug. 1, 2017,which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/898,498,filed Nov. 1, 2013, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entireties.

FIELD

A carriage, such as a stroller, and a method for folding a carriage. Thecarriage has a foldable frame comprising a plurality of elongated framecomponents and a pivot lock and can be folded between a use position anda storage position. The pivot lock is adapted to retain the frame of thecarriage in the use position.

BACKGROUND

Foldable carriages, such as foldable strollers, have been developed topermit a user to reduce the size of the carriage, permitting easystorage and transportation when the carriage is not in use. Usually afoldable carriage can be folded between a use position in which thecarriage can be used for transporting an object, and a storage position,in which the carriage has a reduced size permitting the carriage to bestored in an easy manner.

To retain a foldable carriage in a use position, the foldable carriagehas a pivot lock. The pivot lock retains the foldable carriage in theuse position but as a precaution needs to be unlocked before thefoldable carriage can be folded to the storage position.

The German utility model No. DE 20218 521 U1 disclose a pushchair havinga pivot lock operated via a rotateable handle. The handle is arranged totwo wires which run inside of the tubular frame of the pushchair. Thewires are in turn connected to a lock flange which after being displacedpermits the pushchair to be folded. It has shown however that wires aresubjected to wear and run the risk of being damaged due to such wear. Asthe wires generally tend to run inside of the tubular frame it isdifficult to discover such wear in advance. Another solution isdisclosed in the Chinese patent disclosure, publication No. CN 2730360Y.The latter document discloses a stroller with a pivot lock comprises arotatable handle which cooperates with two rods. The rods assist inlocking the stroller in a use position. Both the above mentionedsolutions require components that run inside of frame components, hencethey are still rather complex solutions.

There is a need to provide simple yet sturdy solutions which aresuitable on different kinds of carriages, preferably strollers.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to remove or reduce at leastone of the drawbacks of the mentioned prior art, or to provide for auseful alternative. The object is at least partly met by a carriagecomprising a frame. The frame is foldable between a use position and astorage position. An attachment point for a plurality of elongated framecomponents, a pivot lock arranged at said attachment point for lockingthe frame in the use position, a pivot axis about which the frame can befolded. The pivot lock is operable by rotating at least a portion of atleast one of said elongated frame components, preferably by rotating oneof the elongated frame components.

The present invention provides for a pivot lock for elongatedcomponents, and a carriage comprising a pivot lock for elongated framecomponents, which reduces the risk for a user acquiring injury due topinching or crushing in the joint or between elongated frame components.It removes, or at least reduces, the need for additional mechanismsinside of the elongated frame components, which reduces weight, costsand complexity of the end product.

The frame can be provided with a first and a second attachment point forelongated frame components. The pivot axis can in such a case extendbetween the first and the second attachment points for elongated framecomponents. The frame can thus be configured so that the frame is foldedat the first and the second attachment points. In this case theattachment points are joints.

According to an aspect, an elongated frame component connects said firstand said second attachment points for elongated frame components. Inthis embodiment, the first and the second attachment points shares anelongated frame component which enables both the first and the secondattachment points to be manipulated using the mentioned elongated framecomponent. Both the first and the second attachment point can thus beprovided with a pivot lock, which assures that the frame can be retainedin the use position. The elongated frame component is preferably atransverse elongated frame component. Transverse in the sense that ishas a substantially perpendicular extension with respect to at leastsome of the other elongated frame components connected at the attachmentpoint.

According to an aspect, the pivot lock is operable by rotating thetransverse elongated frame component. The transverse elongated framecomponent can be operable to unlock the pivot lock so that the frame canbe folded to the storage position. The transverse elongated framecomponent can be rotated about it longitudinal center line clock wiseand/or counter clock wise. By using the transverse elongated framecomponent to unlock the pivot lock; one pivot lock can be operated oreven two pivot locks can be operated simultaneously. Further, itprovides for a rigid connection which is not depending on a mechanismarranged inside of the elongated frame component, as the elongated framecomponent itself is used to translate a rotational motion to alongitudinal motion with respect to the elongated frame component.

The carriage can comprise a first wheel side and the second wheel side.The first wheel side and the second wheel side are connected via thetransverse elongated frame component. The transverse elongated framecomponent is thus substantially parallel, or parallel, with the wheelpivot axis of the frame. This permits the frame to be folded in afavourable position with respect to the wheel pivot axis.

According to an aspect, the carriage can comprise one or more pivot lockto lock the frame in a use position. The carriage can be provided with afirst and a second pivot lock for example. Two pivot locks provides fora safe configuration. The first and the second pivot locks can beoperable by an elongated frame component, preferably the transverseelongated frame component. This enables a simultaneous and rigid controlof the pivot lock using relatively few components.

The pivot lock can be configured in different ways. The pivot lock cancomprise a first and a second lock member, wherein the pivot lockcomprises a first lock member and a translation member, the first lockmember is adapted to engage and disengage an elongated frame componentby a relative displacement of the first lock member. Specifically, ifthe first lock member is of a cogwheel type lock member, or if it is acogwheel, the rotational motion of the transverse elongated framecomponent is translated via the translation member to displace the firstlock member along a longitudinal center axis of the transverse elongatedframe component.

The rotation of the at least a portion of at least one of the elongatedframe components displaces the first lock member in direction along alongitudinal center axis of the transverse elongated frame component.The solution provides for a rigid configuration as a frame component isused to translate an imparted rotational motion by a user, to thedisplacement of the first lock member.

The transverse elongated frame component can be arranged in differentways to manipulate the first lock member. The transverse elongated framecomponent comprises a first and a second end, and the first end of thetransverse elongated frame component can be cooperating with the firstlock member. The cooperation can be directly or indirectly. A directcooperation is a direct connection between the first end of thetransverse elongated frame component and the first lock member. Anindirect cooperation is an indirect connection with the first lockmember e.g. via an intermediate member such a coupling member,translation member or similar.

According to an aspect, the transverse elongated frame component has alongitudinal center axis, and the displaceable lock member is displacedin a direction along the longitudinal center axis.

According to an aspect, the at least a portion of at least one of theelongated frame components can comprise a rotation lock. It isadvantageous if the rotation of the elongated frame component is notactuated accidentally by a user. A rotation lock to the elongated framecomponent address this issue. The rotation lock is preferably arrangedon the transverse elongated frame component, or at least associated withthe transverse elongated frame component. The rotation lock is adaptedto prevent the transverse elongated frame component from beingaccidentally rotated; hence the frame of the carriage can be configuredwith double lock mechanisms.

The rotation lock can comprise a handle, wherein the handle is operableto unlock the rotation lock and to rotate the transverse elongated framecomponent. This enables a user to unlock a two lock mechanisms using onegrip and without changing grip between unlocking the first rotation lockand thereafter unlocking the pivot lock so that the frame can be foldedto a storage position.

According to an aspect, the invention also relates to a method forfolding a carriage to a storage position. The carriage comprises a framewhich is foldable between a use position and a storage position, anattachment point for a plurality of elongated frame components. Theframe further comprises a pivot lock arranged at the attachment pointfor locking the frame in the use position, and a pivot axis about whichthe frame can be folded. The method comprises the steps of unlocking thepivot lock by rotating a portion of at least one elongated framecomponent, so that the carriage is permitted to be folded to the storageposition.

It is also within the boundaries of the present invention to provide apivot lock for locking a first elongated component from pivoting withrespect to a second elongated component about a pivot axis. The pivotlock is arranged in an attachment point for the first and the secondelongated frame components and an additional third elongated component.The third elongated component has a longitudinal center axis. Whereinthe pivot lock is operated by rotating the third elongated componentabout its longitudinal center axis and wherein the pivot axis and thelongitudinal center axis are substantially parallel. The pivot lock is asturdy lock with relatively few components.

The pivot axis and the longitudinal center axis are preferably alignedwith each other.

According to an aspect, the third elongated component comprises anangled surface wherein by rotating the third elongated component aboutits longitudinal center axis, a lock member is displaced in a directionalong the longitudinal center axis of the third elongated component. Thelock member is disengaged from the first elongated component, permittingthe first and the second elongated component to be pivoted with respectto each other.

According to an aspect, the invention relates to a carriage comprising aframe, the frame is foldable between a use position and a storageposition. The frame comprises an attachment point for a plurality offrame components and a pivot lock for retaining the frame in the useposition. The pivot lock is operated by rotating a portion of the frameof the carriage to unlock the pivot lock permitting the carriage to befolded to the storage position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described withreference to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 shows the frame of a stroller arranged in a use position, theframe is foldable to a storage position;

FIG. 2a shows a cross section of a portion of the frame shown in FIG. 1,illustrating a first and a second pivot lock, and portions of elongatedframe members connected to a first and a second attachment point, thepivot locks being in a locked position;

FIG. 2b shows a cross section of a portion of the frame shown in FIG. 1,illustrating a first and a second pivot lock, and portions of elongatedframe members connected to a first and a second attachment point, thepivot locks being in an unlocked position;

FIG. 3 shows the cross section of the first pivot lock at the firstattachment point in greater detail, the pivot lock, and the first lockmember, is in a locked position, in which the carriage is prevented frombeing folded; and

FIG. 4 shows the cross section of the first pivot lock at the firstattachment point in greater detail, the pivot lock, and the first lockmember, is in un unlocked position, in which the carriage can be folded.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of a portion of the frame with the firstattachment point.

FIG. 6 shows the first end of the transverse elongated frame componentwithout the first and the second elongated frame components attachedthereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a carriage 1, in this case a stroller for a child. Thecarriage 1 comprises a frame 2, in this case a load carrying frame, ahandle 3, and a child seat receiving site 4 adapted to receive an insertor a seat for a child. A first and a second rear wheel 5, 6 and a frontwheel 7. The illustrated stroller is a tri wheel stroller, although thepresent invention is not limited to tri wheel strollers but can beapplied on any carriage such as four wheel strollers. The carriage 1 isfoldable, or collapsible. The carriage 1 can be folded between a useposition, shown in FIG. 1, and a storage position. In the use position,the carriage 1 can be used to transport a child while in the storageposition; the carriage 1 can easily be tucked away for storage or fortransport in the trunk of a car for example.

The frame 2 is formed by a plurality of elongated frame components 10.The elongated frame components 10 are generally formed by extrudedaluminum, but other materials are possible such as polymers, composites,wood, steel such as sheet steel, tubes formed by different materials,the like or combinations thereof. It is important however that theelongated frame components are selected so as to be able to safely carrythe weight of load, especially in the cases of strollers.

As mentioned the carriage 1 is foldable. The carriage 1 comprises apivot axis Pc about which the carriage 1 can be folded, or pivoted,between the use position and the storage position. The carriage 1 alsocomprises a pivot lock 20 to lock the carriage 1 in the use position.The carriage 1 further has a first wheel side 12 and a second wheel side13 and a wheel pivot axis Pw extending there between. The wheel pivotaxis Pw of course extends between a first and a second wheel. In theshown embodiment, the carriage 1 can be folded substantially parallelwith the wheel pivot axis Pw.

FIG. 2a shows a cross section of a first and a second pivot lock 20, 20′which are in the shown embodiment substantially identical in functionand structural features. Hereafter only one of the pivot locks 20, 20′will be described in greater detail. FIG. 2a further shows a transverseelongated frame component 10′″ and a rotation lock which will bedescribed in greater detail with reference to FIG. 2b . A carriage 1 canbe provided with one or two, or more such pivot locks dependent on howthe carriage is intended to be folded. The shown carriage 1, and theframe 2, can be folded once about the pivot axis Pc and can thus beprovided with either one or two pivot locks 20.

The pivot lock 20 is operated using one of the elongated framecomponents 10 and more precisely by rotating at least one of theelongated frame components. The elongated frame component is rotatedabout its longitudinal center line L, and can be rotated a predeterminedamount of angular degrees, preferably from 1-360°, more preferably from10-270°, even more preferably from 20-180°, even more preferably from20-90°.

As is noticeable, the carriage 1 comprises a first and a secondattachment point 30, 40 for elongated frame components 10′, 10″, 10′″.The pivot axis Pc intersects with the first and the second attachmentpoint 30, 40 and a transverse elongated frame component 10′″ extendsbetween and connects the first and the second attachment points 30, 40.In the shown embodiment, each attachment point 30, 40 have threeelongated frame components 10′, 10″, 10′″ attached thereto. As isnoticed, the first and the second attachment points 30, 40 shares thetransverse elongated frame component 10′″. Except for the transverseelongated frame component 10′″, a first elongated frame component 10′and a second elongated frame component 10″ is attached to the attachmentpoints 30, 40.

The pivot lock 20 is configured for locking a first elongated component,in this case an elongated frame component 10′, from pivoting withrespect to a second elongated component, in this case a second elongatedframe component 10″, about a pivot axis Pc. The pivot lock is arrangedin an attachment point 30, 40 for the mentioned first and the secondelongated components and an additional third elongated component, inthis case the transverse elongated component 10′″. The third elongatedcomponent has a longitudinal center axis L. The pivot lock is operatedby rotating the third elongated component about its longitudinal centeraxis L, wherein the pivot axis Pc and the longitudinal center axis L aresubstantially parallel, and preferably aligned with each other.

The attachment points 30, 40 are joints 30′, 40′ at which the loadcarrying frame 2 can be folded. Each of the attachment points 30, 40comprises a pivot lock 20 which is operated using the transverseelongated frame component 10′″. Any elongated frame component 10′, 10″,10′″ connected to the attachment point could however be used to operatethe pivot lock 20 dependent on the configuration of the pivot lock 20.An advantage of using a transverse elongated frame component extendingbetween the first and the second attachment points 30, 40, is that thepivot locks 20, 20′ can be simultaneously operated, e.g. unlocked.

The pivot lock 20 comprises a first lock member 21 which can bedisplaced via a translation member 22. The first lock member 21 engagesboth the first elongated frame component 10′ and the second elongatedframe component 10″ when being in a lock position. When the first lockmember 21 is engaged, the first and the second elongated framecomponents 10′, 10″ are prevented from being pivoted with respect toeach other i.e. the frame 2 cannot be folded to a storage position. Whenthe first lock member 21 is displaced from engagement using thetranslation member 22, the first and the second elongated framecomponents 10′, 10″ are permitted to be pivoted with respect to eachother i.e. the frame 2 can be folded to a storage position.

The transverse elongated frame component 10′″ comprises a first and asecond end 10 a, 10 b. Each end 10 a, 10 b is associated with a firstlock member 21. The first lock member 21 is substantially disc shapedand can be displaced between a first and a second position. The firstposition is also referred to as the lock position. In the firstposition, the first lock member 21 fixates the first elongated framecomponent 10′ with respect to the second elongated frame component 10″by engaging both the first and the second elongated frame components10′, 10″ via the attachment point 30. The first attachment point 30 iseffectively prevented from functioning as a joint, i.e. the firstelongated frame component 10′ cannot be pivoted with respect to thesecond elongated frame component 10″. When the first lock member 21 isin the second position (shown in FIG. 4), the first attachment point 30is effectively functioning as a joint, i.e. the first elongated framecomponent 10′ can be pivoted with respect to the second elongated framecomponent 10″.

The pivot lock 20 will be described in greater detail with reference toFIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 2b shows the cross section of FIG. 2a but with the pivot locks 20,20′ in an unlocked position, i.e. the lock member 21 displaced to thesecond position, i.e. the unlocked position. FIG. 2b further shows therotation lock comprising a handle 70 and a lock mechanism 71. The handle70 is biased using a spring 72 from left to right. When a user counteract the spring 72 and pushes the handle 70 from right to left asindicated by the arrow in FIG. 2b , a pin is displaced permitting thetransverse elongated frame component 10′″ to be rotated about itslongitudinal center line L. Due to the configuration of the handle 70,the transverse elongated frame component 10′″ can be rotated about itslongitudinal center line L using the handle 70. Hence the carriage 1 canbe folded using a two step lock mechanism in which a user first unlocksa rotational lock by a sliding motion of the handle 70, and then usingthe same handle, and with no need to change grip, the user unlocks thepivot lock by rotating the handle 70 and thus rotates the transverseelongated frame component 10′″.

FIG. 3 shows the first lock member 21 in the first position, i.e. alocked position. In FIG. 3, the first end 10 a of the transverseelongated frame component 10′″ is arranged to a coupling member 50having a central bore 51 and a rim 52 arranged around the bore 51. Therim is engaged with the second lock member so that if the transverseelongated frame component 10′″ is rotated about its longitudinal axis P,the coupling member 50 and the translation member 22 rotatessynchronously with it. The first lock member 21 is biased towards thetranslation member 22 using a biasing member, in the shown embodiment inthe form of a helical spring 55. The spring 55 braces against aninterior surface of a housing 56 of the attachment point 30. A screw 57extends through the housing 56 and connects the second lock member 21via a sleeve 58 about which the translation member 22 can rotate. Thesleeve 58 further provides a shelf 58′ against which the translationmember 22 can rest.

As can be noticed in FIG. 3, the housing 56 is formed by a first portion56 a of the attachment point 30 and a second portion 56 b of theattachment point 30, which each portions are connected to an elongatedframe component. A slip surface 59 is arranged on both the first andsecond portions 56 a, 56 b of the attachment point 30, and can be saidto divide the housing 56 in two halves. The slip surfaces 59 of thehousing 56 are flat and configured so that the first and the secondportions 56 a, 56 b of the housing 56 can slip against each other duringfolding of the frame 2 between the use position and the storageposition. The first elongated frame component 10′ is attached to firstportion 56 a of the attachment point 30, and the second elongated framecomponent 10″ is attached to the second portion 5 b of the attachmentpoint 30. The slip surfaces 59 of each portion 56 a, 56 b of the housing56 together define a plane Ps which is substantially perpendicular withrespect to the pivot axis Pc of the frame 2 and the longitudinal centerline L of the transverse elongated frame component 10′″.

As can be seen, the first lock member 21 is intersecting the slipsurfaces 59 of the housing 56 and the plane Ps when the first lockmember is in the first position. The first lock member 21 is a cogwheel(shown in greater detail in FIG. 5). The teeth of the first lock member21 engages the interior surface of the housing 56 and in in the lockposition as shown in FIG. 3, the first lock member 21 engages both thefirst portion 56 a of the housing 56 and the second portion 56 b housing56. The first lock member 21 extends across the slip surfaces 59 of thehousing and thus prevents the first elongated frame component 10′ andthe second elongated frame component 10″ from pivoting with respect toeach other. As mentioned above, the first lock member 21 is a cogwheelhaving teeth which interacts with the interior surface of the housing56. The interior surface of the housing 56 has corresponding grooves,adapted to engage with the teeth of the first lock member 21. It shouldbe noted that the interior surface of the housing 56 can be providedwith teeth and the first lock member 21 with grooves instead.

Instead of using a cogwheel, the first lock member 21 can havesubstantially any polygonal form providing locking surfaces. Forexample, the first lock member could be pentagonal, hexagonal,heptagonal or the like.

FIG. 4 shows the pivot lock of FIG. 3 with the first lock member 21 inthe second position, i.e. an unlocked position. As can be seen in FIG.4, the translation member 22 comprises tooth shaped protrusions 60 whichengage the first lock member 21. The tooth shaped protrusions 60 extendin a direction corresponding to the longitudinal center line L of thetransverse elongated frame component 10′″. Each protrusion 60 comprisesan angled surface 61, forming the tooth shaped protrusions 60.

When the translation member 22 is rotated, as a consequence of therotation of the transverse frame component 10′″, the angled surfaces 61of the protrusion 60 slips on a surfaces of the first lock member 21,preferably formed by grooves, and push the first lock member 21 in adirection away from the translation member 22 and the first end 10 a ofthe transverse elongated frame component 10′″. At one point, theprotrusions 60 of the translation member 22 has pushed the first lockmember 21 past the plane Ps formed by the slip surfaces 59 of thehousing 56, so that the first lock member 21 disengages from the firstportion 56 a of the housing 56 and its corresponding grooves, permittingthe first frame component 10′ to be pivoted with respect to the secondframe component 10″. It should be noted that in an embodiment, thetransverse elongated frame component 10′″ can be provided with angledsurfaces just as the protrusions 60 of the translation member 22, i.e.the translation member 22 can be integrally formed with the transverseelongated frame component 10′″.

In FIG. 4, the slip surfaces 59 of the housing 56 is arranged to theleft of the first lock member 21, i.e. the first lock member 21 isdisplaced from the slip surfaces 59 and the plane Ps which they define.The first lock member 21 is thus disengaged from the second elongatedframe component 10″ permitting the first elongated frame component 10′and the second elongated frame component 10″ to pivot with respect toeach other.

Each elongated frame component 10′, 10″, 10′″ is formed by a hollowtubular component formed by extruded aluminum, while the attachmentpoint 30, 40, and the housing 56, in this case the joints 30′, 40′ areformed by a plastic material such as polypropylene.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of a portion of the frame 2 comprising thefirst attachment point 30. FIG. 5 shows from left to right; the secondattachment point 40, the transverse elongated frame component 10′″, theslidable handle 70 and the lock mechanism 71 providing a rotation lockfor the transverse elongated frame component 10′″, a protective sleeve73 comprising a gripping surface, the coupling member 50, a firstportion 56 a of the housing 56 comprising the slip surface 59, thetranslation member 22, the first lock member 21, the spring 55, thesecond portion 56 b of the housing 56, and the screw 57 connecting thefirst portion 56 a of the housing 56 with the second portion 56 b of thehousing 56 and indirectly the transverse elongated frame component 10′″.In the inside of the first portion 56 a of the housing 56 can grooves beseen which cooperates with the teeth of the first lock member 21.Similar grooves are arranged on the inside of the second portion 56 b ofthe housing 56.

FIG. 6 shows the first end 10 a of the transverse elongated framecomponent 10′″ in greater detail without the first and the secondelongated frame components 10′, 10″ attached thereto. FIG. 6specifically show the translation member 22 and the protrusions 60 withtheir angled surfaces 61, adapted to interact with grooves arranged inthe first lock member 21. It should be noted that the transverseelongated frame component 10′″ can be rotated counter clock wise orclock wise dependent on which side the angled surfaces 61 is arranged onthe protrusions 60. If the protrusions 60 comprises angled surfaces 61on two sides, it may be possible that the transverse elongated framecomponent 10′″ can be rotated about its longitudinal center line L inboth a clock wise and in a counter clock wise direction, as indicatedwith the arrows CW (clock wise) and CCW (counter clock wise). Theimportant feature is that the rotational motion of the transverseelongated frame component 10′″ can be translated to a motion in adirection along the longitudinal center line L of the transverseelongated frame component 10′″ so that the first lock member 21 can bedisplaced.

It is possible that instead of rotating an elongated frame component10′, 10″, 10′″ as described above, only a portion of the elongated framecomponent is rotated. For example, the elongated frame component 10′″can be formed by a first and a second elongated frame component whichare rotatably connected together using e.g. a swivel connection betweenthe first and the second ends 10 a, 10 b. The position of such swivelconnection is illustrated in FIG. 2 with the reference SC.

According to a second aspect, the present invention also relates to amethod for folding a carriage, such as a stroller, to a storageposition. The carriage comprises a frame foldable between a use positionand a storage position. An attachment point for a plurality of elongatedframe components, a pivot lock arranged at the attachment point forlocking the frame in the use position, a pivot axis about which theframe can be folded. The method comprises the steps of;—unlocking thepivot lock by rotating at least a portion of at least one elongatedframe component, so that the carriage is permitted to be folded to thestorage position.

What is claimed is:
 1. A carriage, comprising: a frame comprising aplurality of elongated frame components and configured to fold between ause position and a storage position; a first attachment joint coupling afirst and second elongated frame component; a second attachment jointcoupling a third and fourth elongated frame component; a rotation lockdisposed between the first and second attachment joints; and a pivotlock for the first attachment joint configured to prevent the first andsecond elongated frame components from pivoting with respect to eachother when the pivot lock is in a locked configuration.
 2. The carriageof claim 1, wherein the rotation lock comprises a lock mechanism and anactuator configured to unlock the lock mechanism.
 3. The carriage ofclaim 2, wherein the actuator is a handle.
 4. The carriage of claim 1,wherein the rotation lock comprises a lock mechanism and a spring. 5.The carriage of claim 4, wherein overcoming a biasing force of thespring permits a handle to be rotated.
 6. The carriage of claim 1,further comprising a handle, wherein rotating the handle unlocks thepivot lock.
 7. The carriage of claim 6, further comprising a transversecomponent coupled to the handle, wherein rotating the handle rotates thetransverse component.
 8. The carriage of claim 1, wherein the rotationlock comprises a handle disposed around a center axis of a transversecomponent coupled to the first and second attachment joints.
 9. Thecarriage of claim 8, wherein the transverse component is indirectlycoupled to the first and second attachment joints.
 10. A carriage,comprising: a frame configured to fold between a use position and astorage position; a first attachment joint configured to attach aplurality of elongated frame components and a second attachment jointconfigured to attach a plurality of elongated frame components, whereinthe frame is configured to fold at the first and the second attachmentjoints; a pivot lock for the first attachment joint configured to lockthe frame in the use position; a transverse elongated component disposedat least partially between the first and the second attachment joints,wherein the pivot lock is configured to be operated by rotating thetransverse elongated component; and a rotation lock disposed between thefirst and the second attachment joints, the rotation lock having anactuation member configured to unlock the rotation lock.
 11. Thecarriage of claim 10, further comprising a second pivot lock for thesecond attachment joint configured to lock the frame in the useposition.
 12. The carriage of claim 11, wherein the first and secondpivot locks are operated simultaneously.
 13. The carriage of claim 10,further comprising a pivot axis extending between the first and secondattachment joints, wherein the frame is configured to fold about thepivot axis.
 14. The carriage of claim 13, wherein a center axis of thetransverse elongated component is parallel to the pivot axis.
 15. Thecarriage of claim 14, wherein the center axis of the transverseelongated component is coaxial with the pivot axis.
 16. The carriage ofclaim 10, wherein a first end of the transverse elongated componentcooperates with the pivot lock.
 17. The carriage of claim 16, whereinthe first end of the transverse elongated component indirectlycooperates with the pivot lock.
 18. The carriage of claim 10, whereinthe transverse elongated frame component is coupled to the firstattachment joint.
 19. The carriage of claim 18, wherein the transverseelongated frame component is coupled to the second attachment joint. 20.The carriage of claim 10, wherein the rotation lock comprises a handle,a lock mechanism, and a spring.
 21. A method for folding a carriage froma use position to a storage position, comprising: unlocking a rotationlock configured to prevent rotation of a handle coupled to a frame ofthe carriage; rotating the handle, wherein rotating the handle unlocks apivot lock of a first attachment joint of the carriage; and folding thecarriage from the use position to the storage position.
 22. The methodof claim 21, wherein a user unlocks the rotation lock and rotates thehandle without changing grip between unlocking the rotation lock andthereafter rotating the handle to unlock the pivot lock.
 23. The methodof claim 21, wherein the handle is disposed between the first attachmentjoint and a second attachment joint of the carriage.
 24. The method ofclaim 21, wherein the handle is coupled to a transverse component of thecarriage and the transverse component is coupled to the first attachmentjoint.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein rotating the handle rotatesthe transverse component.
 26. The method of claim 24, wherein unlockingthe rotation lock comprises sliding the handle in a longitudinaldirection of the transverse component.
 27. The method of claim 24,wherein the transverse component is indirectly coupled to the firstattachment joint.